Trump slaps reciprocal tariffs on every nation and sends stock futures into chaos as world reacts: Live updates

Donald Trump has unveiled new tariffs on all U.S. trading partners in what the president has repeatedly billed as “Liberation Day” as the announcement approached.

Trump promised to roll out reciprocal dollar-for-dollar tariffs on nations that levy duties on U.S. goods as part of an aggressive attempt to fulfill his administration’s America First agenda and correct years of what he deems “unfair” trade.

In a speech at a “Make America Wealthy Again” event in the White House Rose Garden shortly after U.S. markets closed, the president announced across-the-board tariffs of 10 percent on all nations with reciprocal tariffs for the “worst offenders” at 50 percent of what they tax American goods.

Neighboring Canada and Mexico are not subject to additional tariffs beyond those already imposed related to fentanyl trafficking, with exemptions under the USMCA trade agreement.

Plans were kept firmly under wraps in advance of the event with Trump’s team reportedly weighing options through Tuesday. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the president had already decided his course of action and that the tariffs would go into effect almost immediately. The only way to avoid the new levies, she said, is to move production to the U.S.

Key Points

• Trump claims U.S. industry ‘reborn’ as he imposes sweeping tariffs on much-trailed ‘Liberation Day’

• Trump says America has been pillaged and raped for decades ‘by friend and foe alike’

• All imports to be taxed at 10%, with higher rates for ‘worst offenders’

• Trump’s ‘trade war’ mapped

• Trump tells inner circle Musk leaving soon, report says

• CNBC anchor calls Trump tariffs ‘worse than worst-case scenario’

Trump takes aim at ‘de minimis’ exceptions on goods imported from China

23:43 , AP

Trump has signed an executive order that the White House said would close a “loophole” on small-ticket imported goods from China.

The action seeks to scrap exceptions that had shielded from tariffs on imported goods from China worth less than $800.

This is legally known as the “de minimis” treatment. It suggests that the cost of what’s being imported was too low to merit a tariff.

Trump’s action means goods from China would no longer get the exception.

His new round of sweeping tariffs also seeks to end similar exceptions for imports from all countries, but only once the U.S. government has the personnel to properly process such imports.

That means imported goods from most of the world worth less than $800 would eventually also lose their exceptions.

White House says new China tariffs come on top of existing taxes

23:35 , Oliver O’Connell

No escape for UK: Trump targets ‘foreign cheaters’ in new global trade war

23:30 , Oliver O’Connell

British firms have been hit by a 10 percent tariff on all exports to the United States as Donald Trump ushered in a new era for global trade and pledged America “will no longer be ripped off”.

The US president said his “Liberation Day” announcement — in which some nations will pay as much far higher rates — was a “declaration of economic independence.”

David Maddox reports from London.

No escape for UK as Trump targets ‘foreign cheaters’ in new global trade war

Italy’s Meloni calls Trump tariffs on Europe ‘wrong’

23:22 , Oliver O’Connell

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the introduction by the U.S. of new tariffs against the European Union is a “wrong” measure that doesn’t favor either side.

“We will do everything we can to work towards an agreement with the United States, with the aim of avoiding a trade war that would inevitably weaken the West in favor of other global players,” Meloni said in a Facebook post.

“In any case, as always, we will act in the interest of Italy and its economy, also by discussing with other European partners.”

Could Mexico and Canada benefit from Trump’s tariffs?

23:12 , AP

Mexico and Canada, excluded from the list of reciprocal tariffs due to the trilateral free trade agreement between the countries, may stand to gain by Trump’s announcement, said Gabriela Siller, economic analyst of the Mexican financial group Banco Base.

Mexico is still affected by a number of more limited tariffs on steel and aluminum and may be subject to tariffs down the line as the administration continues to put pressure on the country to control fentanyl production and migration.

But dodging broader measures by the Trump administration on Wednesday could give Mexico a competitive market edge “despite Trump’s protectionist rhetoric,” Siller said.

“It’s bad news for the world,” Siller said. “Still, it’s good news for Mexico. … Tariffs will surely lower what (these countries) sell to the United States. That opens up an opportunity in the market.”

Trump finally unveiled his long-awaited tariff plan. Here’s what happened on ‘Liberation Day’

23:05 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump hailed “liberation day in America” after slapping a 10 percent tax on all imported goods and additional “reciprocal” tariffs against several key trading partners in his escalating trade war that is expected to have a damaging economic ripple effect.

It still remains unclear how new trade barriers will impact the economy and costs of everyday goods as Americans grapple with an uneasy market and a looming affordability crisis.

Alex Woodward reports from New York.

Trump unveiled his long-awaited tariff plan. Here’s what happened on ‘liberation day’

E.U. president to give statement on tariffs at 11 p.m. ET

22:51 , Oliver O’Connell

The Wall Street Journal reports that Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU’s executive body, will deliver a statement on the new tariffs at 5 a.m. Brussels time on Thursday, which is 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump announced what he referred to as a “discounted reciprocal tariff” of 20 percent for E.U. imports during his event in the Rose Garden on Wednesday.

The tax on European goods is double that imposed on many other U.S. trading partners and allies, including the U.K. and Australia (10 percent — the minimum level), but below that set for many other large exporters into the U.S. such as China (34 percent), South Korea (25 percent), and Vietnam (46 percent).

Full list of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs

22:44 , Oliver O’Connell

Australia says U.S. tariffs not ‘act of a friend’

22:38 , Oliver O’Connell

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday of the decision by President Donald Trump to impose tariffs: “This is not the act of a friend. Australians will see the relationship differently as a result.”

He said his country would not place reciprocal tariffs against the U.S.

Trump said on Wednesday that he would impose a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and higher duties on some of his country’s biggest trading partners, in a move that ratchets up a trade war that Trump kicked off on his return to the White House.

Australia — along with a host of other countries including the U.K., Singapore, Chile, Colombia, New Zealand, and the UAE — is being tariffed at the base level of 10 percent, versus countries deemed “worst offenders” by the Trump administration for their taxes on American imports, such as Vietnam (46%), Japan (24%), and Switzerland (31%).

With reporting from Reuters

U.K. opposition parties react to Trump tariffs announcement

22:34 , Oliver O’Connell

Conservative shadow trade secretary, Andrew Griffith, said:

This is disappointing news which will worry working families across the country.

Labour failed to negotiate with President Trump’s team for too many months after the election, failed to keep our experienced top trade negotiator, and failed to get a deal to avoid the imposition of these tariffs by our closest trading partner.

The chancellor’s emergency budget of just a week ago, with its inadequate headroom, is now at risk, casting uncertainty about more taxes or spending cuts.

Sadly, it is British businesses and workers who will pay the price for Labour’s failure.

The silver lining is that Brexit – which Labour ministers voted against no less than 48 times – means that we face far lower tariffs than the EU: a Brexit dividend that will have protected thousands of British jobs and businesses.

President Trump is an admirer of Britain and our negotiations in government showed he wants to do a deal. Labour must swallow their pride, put Britain first and get back around the negotiating table to agree a fair deal to protect jobs and consumers in both the UK and the US alike.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said:

Today Donald Trump has launched a destructive trade war that threatens the jobs and living standards of people across the UK and around the world.

We need to end this trade war as quickly as possible – and that means standing firm with our allies against Trump’s attempts to divide and rule. The Prime Minister should bring our Commonwealth and European partners together in a coalition of the willing against Trump’s tariffs, using retaliatory tariffs where necessary and signing new trade deals with each other where possible.

If the Government gives in to Trump’s threats, it will only encourage him to use the same bullying tactics again and again.

Analysis: Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of Trump has been vindicated (so far!)

22:23 , Oliver O’Connell

David Maddox, The Independent’s political editor, writes from London:

The prime minister will face some brickbats for failing to win a carve out from tariffs with what many see as a fawning approach to Donald Trump and his rightwing White House administration.

But as the world digests the stunning news of reciprocal tariffs unleashed around the globe, Sir Keir Starmer can take some satisfaction from his work and have hope that for the UK at least there is a quick resolution to this nightmare.

As Downing Street was quick to point out, the 10 per cent minimum tariff being imposed on the UK is much better than others, most notably the EU. This literally is the difference between saving and losing many thousands of jobs.

There have been positive noises from Downing Street that despite issues around free speech concerns from the US, the UK and America are close to a trade deal which would even see these tariffs go away.

There is though a very much wait and see on that.

So while Starmer and his ministers can take some satisfaction now from their efforts there is still a lot of work ahead and high stakes. These tariffs wipe out the chancellor Rachel Reeves’ economic headroom.

A failure to get rid of them will leave the UK government in a lot of trouble.

CNBC anchor calls Trump tariffs ‘worse than worst-case scenario’

22:22 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrat lawmakers attack Trump tariff plan

22:19 , Oliver O’Connell

The first reactions to President Donald Trump’s tariff plan are rolling in on X from Democratic lawmakers.

U.K. business secretary says intention remains to secure a deal with U.S.

22:09 , Oliver O’Connell

Reacting to President Donald Trump’s tariffs announcement, in which U.K. imports in the U.S. will be taxed at the lowest rate of 10%, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We will always act in the best interests of U.K. businesses and consumers. That’s why, throughout the last few weeks, the government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship.

“The U.S. is our closest ally, so our approach is to remain calm and committed to doing this deal, which we hope will mitigate the impact of what has been announced today.

“We have a range of tools at our disposal and we will not hesitate to act. We will continue to engage with U.K. businesses including on their assessment of the impact of any further steps we take.

“Nobody wants a trade war and our intention remains to secure a deal. But nothing is off the table and the government will do everything necessary to defend the U.K.’s national interest.”

Watch: Trump claims Great Depression could have been avoided with tariffs

22:01 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump auto tariffs include laptop computers

21:59 , Reuters

President Donald Trump’s 25% autos tariffs will cover nearly $600 billion worth of vehicles and auto parts and extend to all computer imports into the U.S., including laptops, according to a Reuters analysis of tariff codes included in a federal register notice on Wednesday.

The update of Trump’s autos tariff proclamation from last week included nearly 150 auto parts categories that will face tariffs starting on May 3, a month after Thursday’s midnight activation of 25% tariffs on vehicle imports.

The list includes tariff codes for engines, transmissions, lithium-ion batteries and other major components, along with less expensive parts including tires, shock absorbers, spark plug wires and brake hoses.

But a major surprise was the inclusion of the four-digit tariff code covering all computers, which are among the biggest global import categories into the U.S. at $138.5 billion in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

All imports to be taxed at 10%, with higher rates for ‘worst offenders’

21:53 , Oliver O’Connell

To recap, all imports into the U.S. will now be taxed at 10%. There are higher rates for imports from countries that tax U.S. goods at the highest rates, though — as President Donald Trump explains — rather than taxing like for like, the U.S. will level a reciprocal tariff of 50% of what the corresponding country charges.

Here’s a selection of the new tariff rates as announced by the president:

Trump claims U.S. industry ‘reborn’ as he imposes sweeping tariffs on much-trailed ‘Liberation Day’

21:50 , Oliver O’Connell

The Trump administration will levy an across-the-board tax on all imported goods purchased by Americans and levy additional taxes on imports from countries which officials deem to be placing unfair barriers on the importation or sale of American goods in an effort to forcibly undo decades of globalization and reindustrialize a U.S. economy that has become increasingly dominated by services and knowledge-based work in recent years.

Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia report for The Independent from Washington, D.C.

Trump claims American industry ‘reborn’ as he imposes sweeping import taxes

How’s the stock market doing?

21:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Wall Street is closed for the day, but here’s what’s happening in stock futures right now…

Explaining ‘reciprocal’ tariffs, Trump says U.S. will tax half what other countries charge

21:33 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump, explaining how his reciprocal tariffs plan will work, announces that the U.S. will tax imports at 50 percent of what each country taxes American goods.

For example, while China has a tariff on U.S. goods of 67 percent, Chinese goods imported into the U.S. will be taxed at 34 percent.

For the European Union, the corresponding figures are 39 percent on U.S. goods, and so a 20 percent tax on European goods imported into the States.

Other examples given include Vietnam (90% / 46%); Taiwan (64% / 32%); and Japan (46% / 24%).

The U.K., which taxes American goods at 10 percent, will also be tariffed at a 10 percent level — which the president says is the minimum base level for U.S. tariffs.

Trump Cabinet out in force for tariffs event

21:27 , Oliver O’Connell

Among those in attendance at today’s “Make America Wealthy Again” event in the Rose Garden of the White House are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence.

21:19 , Oliver O’Connell

I will sign a historic executive order instituting reciprocal tariffs on countries throughout the world. Reciprocal, that means, they do it to us, and we do it to them. Very simple. Can’t get any simpler than that.

President Donald Trump, speaking in the Rose Garden

Trump confirms auto-sector tariffs effective from midnight

21:16 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump confirms again that “effective at midnight, we will impose a 25 percent tariff on all foreign-made automobiles.”

Watch: Trump calls this one of most important days in American history

21:13 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump says America has been pillaged and raped for decades ‘by friend and foe alike’

21:12 , Oliver O’Connell

“My fellow Americans, this is Liberation Day,” President Donald Trump says before announcing his sweeping reciprocal tariffs. “For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike.”

Wall Street swings sharply in final hours of trading before Trump’s tariff announcement

21:03 , AP

The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged in late trading Wednesday, but only after careening between an earlier loss of 1.1% and a later gain of 1.1%. It’s had a pattern this week of opening with sharp drops only to finish the day higher.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 31 points, or 0.1%, with an hour remaining in trading, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.3% higher. Both also veered from sharply lower in the morning to sharply higher in the afternoon and then doubled back.

Elon Musk’s Tesla helped knock the market around after initially falling more than 6% following a report that it delivered fewer electric vehicles in the first three months of the year than it did in last year’s first quarter.

Watch LIVE: President Donald Trump announces ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs

21:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: What impact will Trump’s tariffs have on the U.K.?

20:58 , Oliver O’Connell

What repercussions will Trump’s tariffs have on the UK?

Trump has told Cabinet members that Musk will step back to ‘supporting role’ soon

20:50 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump has privately told Cabinet members that Elon Musk will step back from his role in the administration soon, according to several reports.

Musk, who has been leading the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce and budget drastically, will soon step into a supporting role, anonymous Trump insiders told Politico and ABC News. Trump discussed this with Cabinet members at a March 24 meeting, Politico reports.

Katie Hawkinson and Gustaf Kilander filed this report from Washington, D.C.

Trump has told Cabinet members that Musk will step back to ‘supporting role’ soon

Fox News host ripped for ‘ridiculous’ demand ‘401(k) people’ treat Trump’s tariffs like ‘war effort’

20:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Ahead of Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, Fox News’ Harris Faulkner urged Americans nervous about the impact on their retirement savings to support the president’s market-ratting trade policies like a “war effort,” prompting critics to lambaste the conservative anchor’s “ridiculous” and “ludicrous” proposition.

“Are we at war?” Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis wondered in response to Faulkner’s remarks.

Justin Baragona has the story.

Harris Faulkner torched over ‘ridiculous’ demand to treat tariffs like ‘war effort’

Former Costa Rican president says his U.S. visa was revoked after he criticized Trump

20:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. has revoked his visa to enter the country.

The move comes several weeks after Arias, 84, criticized Donald Trump on social media, likening the president to a “Roman emperor.”

“I received an email from the U.S. government informing me that they have suspended the visa I have in my passport.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Ex-Costa Rican president says U.S. revoked his visa after he criticized Trump

‘Liberation Day’: Trump rolls out tariffs on cars as U.S. auto imports have soared since pandemic

20:20 , Oliver O’Connell

COMMENT: Liberation day? There can be no winners from Trump’s trade war

20:12 , Oliver O’Connell

James Moore writes:

Donald Trump is characterising it as “Liberation Day”. The rest of the world is scratching its collective head and wondering how the most destructive trade policy the US has ever embarked on will end – and how much damage it will do to the global economy.

The latter wasn’t exactly flying before the US President proved that his bite could indeed be as bad as his bark. It still hasn’t properly recovered from the multiple shocks it has had to contend with in recent years. From the outset, Trump presidency 2.0 looked different. More organised. Filled with loyalists unlikely to attempt to frustrate the President’s destructive instincts, as some of the more experienced and mainstream Republicans in the last administration did.

Apparently, he was armed with a plan and had everything needed to make it happen. However, on the subject of trade – and arguably economics and inflation reduction while we’re at it – Trump has proven to be every bit as erratic as he was when he was last in office.

Continue reading…

Liberation day? There can be no winners from Trump’s trade war

Law firms fear Trump orders could affect security clearances of lawyers who are military reservists

20:05 , AP

President Donald Trump says executive orders targeting law firms are being issued in the name of national security, with the White House asserting that the firms don’t deserve access to sensitive U.S. government information.

But the firms fear the orders are being written so broadly as to potentially weaken national security by calling into question the status of security clearances of lawyers who, in addition to their legal practice, serve as military reservists and require their clearances to report to duty.

Continue reading…

Law firms fear Trump orders could affect security clearances of lawyers who are military reservists

Bill Maher teases conversation with Trump over dinner arranged by Kid Rock

20:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Bill Maher is preparing to divulge the details of his recent White House visit with Donald Trump on the next episode of his Real Time talk show.

The political commentator and TV host, who’s been a longtime critic of the president, recently met with Trump for a private dinner organized by country singer Kid Rock.

In an X post shared Tuesday, Maher addressed fan interest in knowing how the meeting went, teasing: “I promise, all will be revealed on the next @RealTimers on April 11.”

Inga Parkel has the story.

Bill Maher teases dinner with Trump as Kid Rock says it ‘could not have been better’

‘Liberation Day’: Trump’s auto tariffs set to hit Mexico hardest

19:55 , Oliver O’Connell

COMMENT: It will take Starmer’s greatest skill to deal with Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ – but victory is possible

19:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Andrew Grice writes:

When Donald Trump confirms that he is imposing tariffs on imports from the UK, it will appear to be a huge setback for Keir Starmer. Yet, the prime minister can still turn a diplomatic defeat into a victory.

Read more…

‘Liberation Day’ will require Starmer’s greatest skill – but victory is possible

New filing in case of wrongly deported Salvadoran man calls out Trump admin for not attempting to return him to U.S.

19:45 , Oliver O’Connell

A new filing in the case of the Salvadoran man who was wrongfully deported from the United States to a notorious prison in El Salvador has called out the Trump administration for shockingly not even seeking his return to the U.S.

The filing from his lawyers reads in part:

Most shockingly, Defendants do not claim to be attempting to seek Plaintiff’s return to the United States absent this Court’s intervention. This would be a very different case if Defendants came before the court hat in hand, confessing error and assuring the court that remedial steps were underway, and arguing that the Court should not short-circuit measures that were already in process. Instead, Defendants have already washed their hands of Plaintiff, of his U.S.-citizen wife, of his autistic nonverbal five-year-old U.S.-citizen child. Defendants’ proposed resolution of this state of affairs, which they caused either intentionally or at best recklessly, is nothing at all.

This is an outrageous set of facts. If Defendants’ actions in this case are allowed to remain without redress, then the withholding of removal statute and orders of immigration courts are meaningless, because the government can deport whomever they want, wherever they want, whenever they want, and no court can do anything about it once it’s done.

…

Plaintiff has requested that this Court order Defendants to request his return from the government of El Salvador: first, just ask them nicely to please give him back to us. It is inexplicable that Defendants have not done so already.

Here’s our latest coverage of the case:

Lawyers press Trump to return wrongfully deported immigrant sent to Salvadoran prison

‘Liberation Day’: Which three countries could be hit hardest by Trump’s tariffs?

19:35 , Oliver O’Connell

How much was Kid Rock’s wild Oval Office outfit?

19:25 , Oliver O’Connell

The red, white and blue suit Kid Rock wore in the Oval Office on Monday came with quite a price tag…

Ofelia Vasquez and her husband, Western-wear designer Manuel Cuevas, created the bedazzled suit for the singer after he called and asked for an outfit to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Katie Hawkinson reports from Washington, D.C.

Kid Rock’s wild Oval Office suit cost more than $20,000

Trump attacks four ‘disloyal’ Republicans for pushing back on Canada tariffs

19:20 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump chastised four “disloyal” Republican lawmakers who indicated they will join Democrats in voting for a resolution to undo his tariffs on Canada, calling them “extremely difficult” in an overnight Truth Social rant.

Early Wednesday morning, Trump took to his social media platform to implore Senators Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul to “get on the Republican bandwagon” and remain loyal to their party.

Ariana Baio reports.

Trump attacks four ‘disloyal’ Republicans for pushing back on Canada tariffs

‘Liberation Day’: Who has the worst trade deficit with the U.S. as Trump prepares to reveal tariffs plan?

19:15 , Oliver O’Connell

A man came to the US to donate a kidney to his brother — then ICE showed up…

19:05 , Oliver O’Connell

A Venezuelan man came to the United States to donate a kidney to his brother in kidney failure, but ICE authorities detained him, putting the fate of both brothers in question.

José Alfredo Pacheco, 37, was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure in December 2023, shortly after arriving in the Chicago area from Venezuela, seeking asylum. His older brother, José Gregorio González, 43, hoped to donate his kidney to save Pacheco’s life — but immigration authorities detained him, throwing their plans into disarray.

Kelly Rissman reports.

A man came to the US to donate a kidney to his brother. Then ICE arrested him

More than 80% of Americans see foreign trade as opportunity — up 20 points since 2024…

19:00 , Oliver O’Connell

According to polling by Gallup, 81 percent of Americans see foreign trade as an opportunity for economic growth — and that number has jumped 20 percentage points since last year.

The percentage who see it as more of a threat to the U.S. economy has fallen by half to 14%, which would seem to indicate that the Trump administration is wildly out of step as it pursues its trade war against key global partners.

‘You failed, you couldn’t buy the vote’: Elon Musk mocked for trying to spin the Wisconsin election result

18:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk was roundly mocked on social media after attempting to spin his defeat in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race into a win for voters’ rights.

“This was the most important thing,” Musk posted on X in response to a post confirming that Question 1, which adds a voter ID requirement to the state’s Constitution had passed.

That was already the law in Wisconsin, and Question 1 just protected it in the state’s Constitution. However, Musk had long focused on the state’s Supreme Court race and talked little about Question 1. He often posted on social media about the dangers or electing a liberal judge and poured $25 million into the state to support the conservative candidate.

However, Musk’s pick lost to the liberal candidate.

Mike Bedigan and Madeline Sherratt take a look at the response.

Musk mocked for trying to spin Wisconsin election result: ‘You couldn’t buy the vote’

‘Liberation Day’: What do Trump’s tariffs mean for Americans?

18:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump is hailing “liberation day in America” before rolling out still-unannounced “reciprocal” tariffs on imported goods shortly after markets close on Wednesday.

It still remains unclear, exactly, what the administration is planning, or how new trade barriers will impact the economy and costs of everyday goods as Americans grapple with an uneasy market and a looming affordability crisis, with an escalating trade war that is expected to have a damaging economic ripple effect.

With just hours to go before the announcement, Alex Woodward takes a look at the likely impact on Americans.

Trump’s ‘liberation day’ is here. What do his tariffs mean for Americans?

Trump world knows who it will blame if tariffs rollout turns to disaster

18:19 , Oliver O’Connell

It’s unclear what impact President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs will have on the U.S. economy, but if things go badly, members of the administration are reportedly ready to blame one person, as Ariana Baio reports.

The one official Trump world is ready to blame if tariffs are a disaster

White House pushes back on story Musk stepping back from DOGE

18:17 , Oliver O’Connell

As Trump’s deadline approaches, Amazon makes last-ditch bid for TikTok

18:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Amazon has made a last-minute offer to buy TikTok days before President Donald Trump’s Saturday deadline, according to reports.

The online retail giant offered to acquire the social media platform Wednesday in a letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the New York Times reported.

Those involved in talks to find a new owner for the app do not appear to be taking the bid seriously, the outlet reported.

Amazon declined to comment when contacted by The Independent.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Amazon makes last-ditch bid for TikTok as Trump’s deadline approaches

‘Liberation Day’: How’s the stock market doing as we await Trump’s tariffs announcement?

18:03 , Oliver O’Connell

U.S. stock indexes recovered from morning losses to trade modestly higher on Wednesday as investors awaited President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcements.

The Dow Jones was up 273 points or 0.65% shortly before 1 p.m. ET.

Volatility has gripped U.S. markets in recent weeks as investors speculate about the scope of tariffs and their impact on the global economy, inflation, and corporate earnings.

Trump has kept the world guessing on the details of the tariff plans, which were still being formulated ahead of a White House Rose Garden announcement ceremony scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.

The president has said that his reciprocal tariffs aim to equalize the comparatively lower U.S. tariff rates with those imposed by other nations. But the format of the duties was unclear, with reports that Trump was considering a 20% universal tariff.

At the close of trading in London, the FTSE 100 fell on Wednesday as investors awaited details of the tariff plans in the latest escalation of a global trade war that has heightened worries about global growth and inflation.

The blue-chip stocks index fell 0.3%, while the midcap FTSE 250 gained 0.3%. Gains in the pound weighed on the export-focused FTSE 100, as the dollar lost ground ahead of the tariff announcement.

The tariffs, which will take effect immediately, are expected to trigger price increases, prompt retaliatory measures from affected countries, and disrupt decades of established trade practices.

However, British finance minister Rachel Reeves said the U.K. would not rush into action to counter any tariffs, as it doesn’t want to risk undermining a possible trade deal with Washington.

Reporting by Reuters

‘Liberation Day’: What Independent readers are saying about Trump’s tariffs

18:00 , Oliver O’Connell

As Donald Trump prepares to unveil the latest round of US tariffs – grandly dubbed “Liberation Day” by the White House – the uncertainty surrounding their impact is growing.

While Trump has hinted that all nations will be affected, the specifics remain unclear.

What is certain, however, is that his trade war will have far-reaching consequences for global markets, businesses, and consumers.

The topic has got Independent readers talking, with many sharing their views on Trump’s tariffs.

Here’s what they had to say:

‘The US is the biggest loser’: What our readers are saying about Trump’s tariffs

Dad sues after son forbidden from wearing ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ t-shirt at school

17:54 , Oliver O’Connell

An Ohio 8th-grader’s father has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the boy’s teacher, principal, and school district after he was asked to stop wearing a “Let’s Go Brandon” T-shirt to class — then got detention for ignoring the request, dismissing concerns as “not my problem.”

Justin Rohrlich reports.

School sued for forbidding eighth-grader from wearing ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ T-shirt

Trump national security adviser used personal email, White House says

17:46 , Oliver O’Connell

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz received emails via his personal email account but has never used that account to send classified material, the White House said after The Washington Post reported Waltz and other National Security Council members used Gmail for government work.

The Post on Tuesday said Waltz and other NSC members used the Alphabet-owned commercial email service to conduct government business, a week after the Trump administration’s security practices came under bipartisan criticism following its use of the Signal messaging app to coordinate military action in Yemen.

One Waltz aide used Gmail to share information involving sensitive military positions and powerful weapon systems tied to an unspecified ongoing conflict, it reported, citing documents it reviewed and interviews with three U.S. officials.

Waltz had less sensitive but still exploitable information sent to his personal email, including his schedule and other work documents, the Post said.

Reuters

Liberation Day: U.S. auto sector imports have soared since Covid-19 pandemic

17:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Pentagon continuing mysterious buildup in the wake of Trump’s latest threats against Iran

17:40 , Oliver O’Connell

The U.S. is amassing nuclear-capable stealth bombers on a tiny British territory in the middle of the Indian Ocean just days after President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran.

According to satellite images taken by Planet Labs and verified by the Associated Press on Wednesday, at least six B-2 Spirit bombers were spotted on the runway at Camp Thunder Bay in Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago.

The photographs surfaced just days after Trump told NBC News Sunday that Iran would see “bombing the likes of which they have never seen before” if Tehran did not reach an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.

James Liddell reports.

New photos show mysterious warplane buildup after Trump bombing threats against Iran

Team Trump circulates clip of Trump railing against free trade decades ago

17:39 , Oliver O’Connell

Sen. Collins speaks out in support of Democrat resolution on Canada tariffs

17:34 , Oliver O’Connell

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine has spoke out in support of the Democrat-led resolution pushing to eliminate Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada.

“I will support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do so likewise,” she just said on the floor of the Senate.

Collins joins senators Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell as Republicans supporting the resolution, with a vote expected between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. tonight.

The Maine senator says Canada “is not complicit” in the fentanyl crisis cited as the reason for the tariffs and says: “We should continue working with our Canadian allies to secure the northern border, not unfairly penalize them.”

“If these tariffs go into effect, it will be so harmful,” she added, “And as price hikes always do, they will hurt those the most who can afford them the least.”

Spain’s stock of Rioja wine is overflowing and Trump’s tariffs could make that worse

17:32 , Oliver O’Connell

Grab a glass.

Spanish winemakers are grappling with bulging cellars of Rioja, exacerbated by the pandemic, while facing the prospect of crippling new tariffs on exports to the US.

President Trump’s proposed 200 per cent tariffs on European wine and champagne imports, dubbed “liberation day” tariffs, threaten to exacerbate the existing challenges facing the industry.

This looming threat coincides with a global downturn in wine consumption, further complicating the outlook for Rioja producers.

Read on…

Spain’s Rioja cellars are overflowing. Trump’s tariffs threaten to make that worse

Fox News reporter bursts bubble and tells Fox & Friends what Wisconsin vote says about Musk

17:24 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox News correspondent Mike Tobin delivered some tough news to Fox & Friends viewers on Thursday, letting them know that “first buddy” Elon Musk is considered an unpopular “rich outsider” in Wisconsin, and the state’s voters pushed back on his efforts to influence the Supreme Court election.

Tobin’s report comes the morning after Susan Crawford decisively defeated Musk-backed opponent Brad Schimel, retaining liberals’ 4-3 majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Justin Baragona reports.

Fox reporter bursts bubble, tells Fox & Friends Wisconsin’s just not that into Musk

‘Liberation Day’: The ‘Dirty 15’ countries braced for harder hit from Trump’s tariffs

17:15 , Oliver O’Connell

As the world economy braces for Donald Trump’s unveiling of a swathe of tariffs, some country leaders will be fearing the worst after Washington singled out a “dirty 15” list of nations.

Although not naming the countries, treasury secretary Scott Bessent said the group of nations traded heavily with the U.S. and had high tariffs on U.S. goods, plus held non-tariff barriers such as domestic-content production rules.

Coining the term “dirty 15”, Bessent was referring to 15 per cent of countries that account for the bulk of U.S. trading volume – a list of nations economists expect could be hit by Trump’s tariffs..

Alex Croft reports.

The ‘Dirty 15’ countries braced for harder hit from Trump’s tariffs

Watch: Linda McMahon gate crashes Democrat press conference outside Education Department

17:04 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump announces $100m deal with Doug Emhoff’s law firm

16:59 , Oliver O’Connell

The law firm that Doug Emhoff, the husband of former vice president Kamala Harris, works at has agreed to provide at least $100 million in pro bono services to the Trump administration – the latest law firm to cut a deal with the administration to avoid repercussions.

Ariana Baio has the details.

Trump announces $100M deal with Doug Emhoff’s law firm

Trump tells inner circle Musk leaving soon, report says

16:49 , Oliver O’Connell

During his executive order signing presser on Monday, President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that cabinet secretaries could continue the work of DOGE in their own departments, and that he expected Elon Musk to go back to running his companies.

“At some point, he’s going to be going back. I’d keep him as long as I can keep him – he’s a very talented guy,” Trump told reporters during the huddle.

Now, reporting by Politico says that Trump has told his inner circle, including members of his Cabinet, that Musk will be stepping back in the coming weeks.

The president remains pleased with Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency initiative but both men have decided in recent days that it will soon be time for Musk to return to his businesses and take on a supporting role, according to three Trump insiders who were granted anonymity to describe the evolving relationship.

Musk’s looming retreat comes as some Trump administration insiders and many outside allies have become frustrated with his unpredictability and increasingly view the billionaire as a political liability, a dynamic that was thrown into stark relief Tuesday when a conservative judge Musk vocally supported lost his bid for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat by 10 points.

Musk’s time as a special federal employee technically ends after 130 days, so this is not entirely unexpected. His DOGE team is embedded in each department and could continue their work under each secretary — if required.

Nevertheless, the news created quite a stir:

Liberation Day: Mexico set to be hit hardest by Trump’s auto sector tariffs

16:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Rep Byron Donalds asked about constituents feeling tariff pain

16:38 , Oliver O’Connell

Mexico’s Sheinbaum maintains optimistic tone in face of promised new tariffs

16:34 , Oliver O’Connell

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is maintaining an optimistic tone in the face of expected new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Her government has sought “preferential treatment” from the Trump administration due to a free trade agreement between the two nations and Canada.

Sheinbaum stated she would wait to take action on Thursday until it was clear how Trump’s announcement would impact Mexico, noting that her government was in constant contact with his administration.

“It’s not a question of if you impose tariffs on me, I’m going to impose tariffs on you,” she said in a news briefing Wednesday. “Our interest is in strengthening the Mexican economy.”

While Trump has already imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum, economic forecasters have warned that broader 25% tariffs could push Mexico’s economy into a recession.

With reporting by the AP

McConnell on board with Democrat push to rebuke Trump for tariffs on Canada

16:18 , Oliver O’Connell

Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is on board with an effort by Democrats in the upper chamber — led by senators Tim Kaine, Amy Klobuchar, and Mark Warner — to end Donald Trump’s “made-up emergency” that the president has declared against Canada allowing him authority to unilaterally impose tariffs on the U.S.’s northern neighbor.

Trump claims the authority by declaring a national emergency caused by the flow of fentanyl and undocumented migration from Canada — as well as Mexico and China.

“President Trump is saying that there is an emergency with Canada. Canada is a friend, not an adversary. Canada is a sovereign nation, not a 51st state,” Senator Kaine of Virginia said on Tuesday.

This morning, CNN’s Haley Talbot reports that the list of Republicans who will vote Yes on a tariffs resolution up for a vote today at around 7 p.m. has grown to include the former GOP leader of the Senate.

Kaine said he approached McConnell last night and didn’t even get to the question before the Kentucky senator said: “I’m with you.”

Other Republicans in support of the move to at least symbolically rebuke the president on his trade policy — just a few hours after his “Liberation Day” announcement on reciprocal tariffs expected to cover a large swathe of U.S. trading partners — include senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul.

Senator Thom Tillis also told CNN that he doesn’t plan on voting for Kaine’s resolution, but has “some concerns with the trade policies being discussed,” adding, “We need to see what comes out tomorrow [Wednesday] and be instructed by that before we take action.”

Earlier, Trump wrote in part on Truth Social:

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Rand Paul, also of Kentucky, will hopefully get on the Republican bandwagon, for a change, and fight the Democrats wild and flagrant push to not penalize Canada for the sale, into our Country, of large amounts of Fentanyl, by Tariffing the value of this horrible and deadly drug in order to make it more costly to distribute and buy. They are playing with the lives of the American people, and right into the hands of the Radical Left Democrats and Drug Cartels. The Senate Bill is just a ploy of the Dems to show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans, namely these four, in that it is not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it.

TikTok memes, songs and praise for Cory Booker’s record-breaking Senate filibuster

16:15 , Oliver O’Connell

After breaking the record for the longest Senate speech in history, Cory Booker now seems to have broken the internet, with a slew of praise, memes and even TikTok videos commemorating his mammoth achievement.

The New Jersey Democrat took to the Senate floor on Monday evening, saying he would remain there as long as he was “physically able.” The speech lasted a whopping 25 hours and 5 minutes.

Mike Bedigan looks at some of the online reactions.

Cory Booker sparks TikTok memes and praise with record-breaking Senate filibuster

Here’s how Cory Booker’s record-breaking 25-hour anti-Trump Senate speech went down

16:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Richard Hall writes:

It was fitting that Cory Booker was recounting a story about the late civil rights leader John Lewis as he entered the 19th minute and 24th hour of a historic speech to the Senate on Tuesday evening.

In that moment, the first Black Senator for New Jersey broke a record for the longest speech ever made in Congress, one that was set 67 years ago by the segregationist Democrat Strom Thurmond, who spoke for a day and a night in opposition to the Civil Rights Act.

Overcome with emotion, Booker looked up to the ceiling and touched his heart as his fellow Democrats in the chamber applauded his effort.

Continue reading…

Here’s how Cory Booker’s record-breaking 25-hour anti-Trump Senate speech went down

‘The heat shield has melted’: ‘Morning Joe’ hosts revel in Elon Musk’s failure in Wisconsin after multi-million investment

15:52 , Oliver O’Connell

One of MSNBC’s Morning Joe hosts is delighting in the fact that the Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate backed by Elon Musk’s lost – even after the tech mogul dumped millions into the race.

Wisconsin voters elected liberal justice Susan Crawford to the state’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, beating Brad Schimel by more than 200,000 votes in the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history. The vote keeps the high court’s 4-3 liberal majority intact.

Musk repeatedly played up the stakes of the election, claiming it will direct the “destiny of humanity” and the future of “the world” is at stake.

Now, Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough is reveling in the “massive loss” Musk suffered.

Katie Hawkinson reports from Washington, D.C.

Morning Joe hosts revel in Musk’s failure in Wisconsin after multi-million investment

Liberation Day: Three countries at risk of being hit hardest by Trump tariffs

15:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump admin sending three USAID staffers to Myanmar in aftermath of earthquake

15:36 , Oliver O’Connell

The U.S. has sent a three-person team to Myanmar to help respond to the 7.7-magnitude earthquake, in a move criticized as “weak and irrelevant” by a former aid official.

Much larger Russian and Chinese teams have already been helping search-and-rescue efforts in the country for days.

Steffie Banatvala reports.

USAID sending three person team to earthquake disaster zone in Myanmar

Advocates demand release of mom and her kids were ‘snatched’ from their New York home by ICE

15:33 , Oliver O’Connell

A mother and her three children were “wrongfully” detained by immigration enforcement agents in New York and taken to a detention facility in Texas, a nonprofit says as it calls for their release.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained the mother – whose birth country was not disclosed – and her kids, one of whom is in third grade, on March 27 while they were executing an arrest on a farm in Sackets Harbor, New York, according to the New York Immigration Coalition.

Kelly Rissman reports.

A mother and three children in New York were ‘wrongfully’ detained by ICE

Elon Musk breaks silence after his candidate loses Wisconsin Supreme Court race

15:25 , James Liddell

Elon Musk broke his silence after suffering defeat in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, which cemented a liberal majority for the next three years.

Susan Crawford’s win keeps the court under a 4-3 liberal majority in the face of crucial litigation surrounding abortion access, voting rights and redistricting.

Like President Donald Trump, Musk chose to focus on the background win of Wisconsin voters approving the constitutional amendment to enshrine voter ID laws, a vote that was being held at the same time as the Supreme Court race.

“This was the most important thing,” Musk posted on X in response to a post on voter ID.

Madeline Sherratt has the full story.

Elon Musk breaks silence after his candidate loses Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Loeffler hails ‘Liberation Day’ as ‘salvation’ for small businesses and America

15:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Kelly Loeffler, former Georgia senator and now head of the Small Business Administration in the Trump administration, hailed Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” as “the single greatest salvation, for not just small businesses, but for America,” during an appearance on Fox Business this morning.

The president eagerly posted a clip of her conversation with Maria Bartiromo to his Truth Social account:

Italy’s Meloni and leading business group warns of impact of Trump tariffs

15:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the country’s top business lobby warned on Wednesday that impending U.S. tariffs could significantly impact the nation’s exports and its already struggling economy.

“It is clear that the introduction of new tariffs would have heavy repercussions for Italian producers,” Meloni said while hosting a prize-giving ceremony for Italian cuisine in Rome.

Meloni added that she did not rule out “adequate responses” to protect the exports of the euro zone’s third largest economy, though she did not provide further details.

Italy recorded a trade surplus with the United States of 39 billion euros ($42.14 billion) in 2024, the third largest in the 20-nation euro area, according to Eurostat data.

Earlier on Wednesday, the business association Confindustria reported that Italy’s economy is expected to grow by 0.6% this year, half of the government’s official target and down from a 0.9% forecast made by the group in October.

The economy expanded by a modest 0.7% in both 2024 and 2023. It managed to achieve 0.1% growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the previous three months, after stagnating in the third quarter. Most analysts do not foresee any significant rebound in the near term.

Confindustria indicated that while its forecasts accounted for the already-announced U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as what it termed “record levels of uncertainty” regarding trade policy, they did not consider the effects of an escalating trade war.

In a worst-case scenario, with permanent 25% U.S. tariffs on all imports, rising to 60% for China, coupled with retaliatory measures against U.S. exports, Italy’s growth could decline to around 0.2% this year, it said.

Reporting by Reuters

ICYMI: ‘I took on the world’s richest man and won,’ Crawford says

15:03 , James Liddell

Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate who ran for a critical seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, relished in her victory after defeating Elon Musk-back conservative candidate Brad Schimel on Tuesday.

“As a little girl growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin, and we won,” she said.

Watch her remarks below:

BREAKING: Judge throws out Eric Adams corruption case and sides with Trump’s DOJ

14:54 , Oliver O’Connell

A federal judge in New York permanently dismissed the corruption and bribery charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday morning, siding with President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice.

Ariana Baio has the latest from New York.

Judge throws out Eric Adams corruption case and sides with Trump’s DOJ

Trump admin arguing Tren de Aragua is part of Venezuelan regime

14:49 , Alex Woodward

The Trump administration is going all-in on arguing to the Supreme Court that Tren de Aragua is an arm of the Maduro regime and is “conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States * * * at the direction * * * of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.” [asterisks theirs!]

Last week, an appeals court argued the Trump administration is twisting the definitions of “invasion” and “predatory incursion” when Trump just means immigration. Here, the administration is pushing further to advance the idea that Maduro is behind the group.

Read the full court filing here

The biggest losers amid Trump’s escalating trade war

14:41 , James Liddell

World leaders are bracing for an escalation in the US trade war with Donald Trump set to unveil a fresh batch of tariffs on imported goods.

The U.S. president is set to announce a string of fresh tariffs on so-called “Liberation Day” in an effort to increase homegrown production and reduce trade imbalances.

The changes are set to range from levies on countries buying Venezuelan oil to reciprocal tariffs on countries with “unfair taxes” on U.S. goods.

But some countries will be hit harder than others, with a handful already bearing the brunt of Trump’s trade war.

Data correspondent Alicja Hagopian has examined which countries ae most at risk.

Trump’s tariffs in numbers: The biggest losers amid escalating US trade war

Trump slams Republicans senators over Canada fentanyl tariffs

14:20 , James Liddell

In an early morning Truth Social blitz Wednesday, Donald Trump slammed GOP Senators Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul for opposing his proposal to impose tariffs on Canada over fentanyl trafficking.

All four members of Congress have publicly said they will (or likely will) vote for a resolution to end the emergency declaration enabling the tariffs against America’s northern neighbor.

Read Trump’s full post:

Trump’s ‘trade war’ mapped

14:00 , James Liddell

Trump announces deal with former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff’s law firm

13:36 , James Liddell

Donald Trump has announced another multi-million dollar deal with a law firm.

This time, one that employs Doug Emhoff, former Vice President Kamala Harris’s husband.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where Emhoff is a partner, has committed to providing $100 million worth of pro-bono work over the next four years to legal causes Trump has championed, the president wrote on Truth Social Tuesday evening.

“Willkie’s pro bono Committee will ensure that new pro bono matters are consistent with these objectives, and that pro bono activities represent the full political spectrum, including Conservative ideals,” he wrote.

It follows a top DC lawyer from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom who quit her job last week in protest of her firm’s decision to provide $100 million worth of pro-bono work to the Trump administration.

Trump tariffs: Who are the ‘big three’ countries set to suffer?

13:13 , James Liddell

Canada, Mexico and China – the only three countries so far to face targeted tariffs – stand to lose the most from Mr Trump’s trade war, writes data correspondent Alicja Hagopian.

For Canada, Trump has already applied a 25 percent tariff on goods with temporary exemptions for items including textiles and apparel, with some $253 billion worth of imports impacted.

But with the temporary exemptions due to expire tomorrow, that figure is likely to rise for the country which imported around $421.2 billion in goods to the US in 2024.

For Mexico, $236 billion of the country’s $507 billion goods exported to the US – around 47 percent – are currently under 25 percent tariffs while exemptions are in place. Again, exemptions expire on 2 April.

House Democrats expected to meet McMahon at 9:30 a.m.

12:52 , James Liddell

California Representative Mark Takano is set to lead a group of about 10 House Democrats to meet Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Wednesday morning, according to information obtained by NewsNation.

It follows the Education Department workforce being slashed in half from over 4,000 after Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the agency last month.

Democrats had previously demanded a meeting with the department’s previous acting head Denise Carter and showed up at headquarters to find the door locked.

Trump awakens: ‘It’s Liberation Day in America!’

12:10 , James Liddell

Trump appears to take credit for GOP holding Florida House seats

12:06 , James Liddell

The president has heaped on praise for his own endorsement of two Republicans who held onto House seats in special elections in Florida Tuesday evening after closer-than-expected contests.

Randy Fine won the election to replace National Security Adviser Michael Waltz while Jimmy Patronis easily won the seat in Florida’s first district vacated by former congressman Matt Gaetz.

“BOTH FLORIDA HOUSE SEATS HAVE BEEN WON, BIG, BY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE. THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AS ALWAYS, PROVED FAR GREATER THAN THE DEMOCRATS FORCES OF EVIL,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday evening.

“CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICA!!!”

Trump tariffs: Which countries have the worst trade deficits with the US?

11:59 , James Liddell

Watch: Susan Crawford speaks out after winning Wisconsin Supreme Court seat

11:43 , James Liddell

Trump celebrates as Wisconsin approves voter ID ballot measure

11:21 , James Liddell

The president celebrated following a ballot measure being passed that amends the state Constitution to require photo identification to vote – after disappointment in the state’s Supreme Court election.

“VOTER I.D. JUST APPROVED IN WISCONSIN ELECTION. Democrats fought hard against this, presumably so they can CHEAT. This is a BIG WIN FOR REPUBLICANS, MAYBE THE BIGGEST WIN OF THE NIGHT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social early Wednesday.

“IT SHOULD ALLOW US TO WIN WISCONSIN, LIKE I JUST DID IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, FOR MANY YEARS TO COME!”

However, Wisconsin law already requires voters to show identification. The passage of the Republican-backed ballot will now make it harder for that requirement to be removed by the courts or the legislature.

Agencies gutted by predawn health department firing spree

11:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Tuesday marked the beginning of the end for the federal government’s public health authorities, with an early morning wave of reduction-in-force emails placing thousands of employees on notice for imminent termination.

Whole sub-agencies at the Department of Health and Human Services are gone, according to furious and despondent current and former employees who flooded Reddit boards with firsthand accounts. The cuts gutted or wholly shut down regional offices, including the agency’s IT infrastructure and even an agency that mobilizes after natural disasters, such as hurricanes: the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.

John Bowden reports from Washington, D.C.

Predawn firing spree at HHS leaves agencies gutted and Congress frustrated

Watch: Corry Booker speaks out after record-shattering Senate speech

10:35 , James Liddell

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker explained why it was important for him to break the record for the longest speech ever delivered in the Upper Chamber, at 25 hours and four minutes.

“Strom Thurmond’s record always kind of just really irked me. That the longest speech on our great Senate floor was from someone who was trying to stop people like me from being in the Senate,” Booker told MSNBC on Tuesday evening.

“So to surpass that was something I didn’t know that we could do… once we got closer became more and more important to me.”

ICYMI: Republicans hold onto two Florida House seats

10:13 , James Liddell

Republicans held onto two House seats in special elections in Florida Tuesday evening after closer-than-expected contests, adding to the Republicans ‘ narrow majority.

Randy Fine, a right-wing senator in the state legislature, won the election to replace National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who resigned the seat to take his post in the Trump administration.

Republican Jimmy Patronis easily won the seat in Florida’s first district vacated by former congressman Matt Gaetz. Gaetz resigned his seat when Trump nominated him to be attorney general, though Gaetz ultimately withdrew his nomination.

Washington Bureau Chief Eric Garcia has the details.

Republicans hold onto two Florida House seats

What time are Donald Trump’s tariffs being announced?

09:57 , James Liddell

Donald Trump is expected to announce his “Liberation Day” tariffs in the Rose Garden to selected guests today at 4 p.m. ET when stock markets close in America.

His press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that they will go into effect immediately, adding the only way to avoid the new levies is to move production to the U.S.

Crawford: ‘Our courts are not for sale’

09:52 , James Liddell

Susan Crawford appears to have taken a swipe at GOP megadonor Elon Musk after her Wisconsin Supreme Court win.

The liberal candidate defeated conservative Brad Schimel Tuesday night to win a critical seat on the state’s High Court.

“Tonight, Wisconsinites stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price—our Courts are not for sale,” Crawford wrote on X early Wednesday morning.

Musk funneled an estimated $25 million into the race backing Schimel. The Wisconsin race marked the most expensive judicial battle in U.S. history.

This is who Trump world will blame if tariffs are a disaster…

09:31 , Oliver O’Connell

It’s unclear what impact President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs will have on the U.S. economy, but if things go badly, members of the administration are reportedly ready to blame Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

Ariana Baio reports.

The one official Trump world is ready to blame if tariffs are a disaster

New China tariffs come on top of existing taxes, White House says

23:35 , Oliver O’Connell

Musk speaks out after conservative candidate beaten at ballot box

09:07 , James Liddell

Elon Musk has lamented the “corruption of the judiciary” after liberal Judge Susan Crawford defeated conservative candidate Brad Schimel for a pivotal seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Musk poured an estimated $25 million into the race in an attempt to defeat Crawford, according to the New York Times.

Two days before Election Day, Musk traveled to Wisconsin to deliver a town hall, handing out $1 million checks to two voters who previously signed a petition against “activist judges.”

‘Wisconsin beat a billionaire’: Jubilant Dems celebrate Crawford state Supreme Court win

08:40 , James Liddell

Mike Johnson throws cold water on Trump’s musings about a third term

08:15 , Oliver O’Connell

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a constitutional law expert, cast doubt on Tuesday on the viability of Donald Trump’s stated interest in running for a constitutionally barred third term as president.

“There’s a constitutional path. You have to amend the constitution to do it,” Johnson told reporters at the Capitol. “That’s a high bar.”

Josh Marcus reports.

Mike Johnson throws cold water on Trump’s musings about a third term for president

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website